A haunted house! Kareoke! Food! A (blood) red carpet. And… Lloyd Kaufman! All in ONE location! (Oh, and The Toxic Avenger was there too… I’m sure he’ll kick my ass for mentioning him last!)

Cult and horror film fanatics had a killer time at an amazing, unique extravaganza called Shockfest Winter BBQ featuring the renowned Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma Entertainment and creator of The Toxic Avenger. which is perhaps Troma’s most widely known movie.  The event took place on March 8th at the legendary Halloween Adventure store in New York City, an East Village Institution providing costumes, masks, wigs, props, makeup and much more.  The event was presented by the Shockfest Film Festival.  Shockfest screens and awards independent cutting-edge films from all genres including Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Documentary, Experimental and everything in between. 

Along with Kaufman, the monstrous Toxie was there, complete with his tutu and mop.   Troma starlet Lisa Gaye was also there to pose for pics and greet fans with an extreme beehive hairdo and retro glasses, invoking Professor Melvina Holt, a character she played in Class of Nuke ‘Em High and Return to Nuke ‘Em High.  Gaye also starred in Toxic Avenger II, III, IV, and V, and many other Troma cult classics.  Kaufman was reunited with actress/author Wendy Stuart who played in the outrageous Troma comedy films Squeeze Play and Waitresses.  

Stuart was more recently in the murder-in-makeup horror flick, Drag to Death. Other actors from the film, Jed Ryan and Anu Singh, were also present, along with the film’s screenwriter and director Clover Welsh, aka Lady Clover Honey.  Other Horror luminaries seen enjoying the event were Roy Kohn from Blood Manor Podcast, Dwayne Steeler (Blood Stab, The Secret of Cuck Island) Horror Diva Coma White, The Diana Doll from Slumber Party / Nightmare. Sammy aka Snatchem The Clown, Jeffrey Macabre and the folks from Shockfest, 

The event also included Scary Karaoke and a thrilling walk-through haunted house with live ghouls, ghosts and zombies giving startling, terrifying shocks.  As well as a delicious food buffet.  Sponsors of the gala included Forbidden Planet, Brandon Tyler Productions, Esposito’s Finest Quality Sausage. Max Brenner Chocolate, Nuovo York Pizza, Unregular Bakery, Unregular Pizza, The Hot Spot, and Ben Eye make-up. 

Learn more about Shockfest Film Festival at https://www.shockfilmfest.com/. Visit Halloween Adventure at 104 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003.

(Photos by Jed Ryan and Lady Clover Honey.)